New Kokanee Beer Cans Celebrate the Best of the West

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 7, 2011) - Kokanee announced today the launch of its limited edition Mountain Can Series, an innovative new packaging design for one of Western Canada's most popular beer brands. The series features trail maps of several mountains in the region and leverages QR Code technology to connect users to interactive versions of each map.

"Kokanee is a long standing partner with some of the best Mountain Resorts in Western Canada, what better way to celebrate these relationships than to put their trail maps right on our packaging," said Mike Bascom, Marketing Manager for Kokanee. "We're very proud of our Mountain roots and are really excited to be able to bring the mountains to life in an innovative way."

In place of the usual iconic Kokanee glacier, the new can design features trail maps of eight mountains including: Whistler Blackcomb, Marmot Basin, Cypress Mountain, Fernie Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort, Lake Louise, Red Mountain Resort, and Mount Washington Alpine Resort. 

In addition to the maps, the Mountain Can Series provides interactive content for fans to access via QR Code technology (a barcode made up of small square pixels). Using any free QR Code scanning application on a smart phone, fans can download the entire mountain map and pan across it to learn facts about the mountain, try to find the iconic Kokanee stealing Sasquatch, hidden somewhere on the map and find out about great contests and prizes. 

"Using QR Code technology is fresh new approach for Kokanee in our product packaging design and provides a richer brand experience," explained Bascom. "Kokanee is born and bred in the mountains in Western Canada. The Mountain Can embraces Kokanee's roots and offers our fans a cool, innovative way to interact with the brand."

The limited edition Mountain Can Series hit store shelves in February, and will be available in all Kokanee can packs at retail outlets across B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan while supplies last.

For more information and contest info, fans can visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Kokanee. 

About Kokanee 

Sourced exclusively from the Columbia Brewery, Kokanee lager is an authentic domestic specialty beer and a true taste of British Columbia. Built in 1959, the Columbia Brewery is located in picturesque Creston and is part of the rich brewing tradition of British Columbia. In addition to Kokanee and Kokanee Light, the Columbia Brewery also produces Kokanee Gold, Kootenay True Ale and Alexander Keith's.